Method of vaporizing or gasifying liquids



Jan. 3, 1950 w. P. KlNNEEN 2,493,073

METHOD OF VAPORIZING OR GASIFYING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 10, 1946 INVE -11R1 WILUAM Ffirfmcu K: Mus-E m mm fbm w wAfr'ya Patented Jan. 3, 1950William Patrick Kinneen, Dublin, Eire Application August 10, 1946,Serial No. 689,766 In Great Britain August 14, 1945 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved method of vapourising or gasifyingliquids, more particularly liquids which it is desired to vapourise orgasify in order to produce the driving gases of jet-propulsion units orinternal combustion engines, although it is generally applicable to thevapourising or gasiiying of liquids for any purpose, subject only to thelimitation that a jet of the liquid in question shall be capable ofconducting an electric current.

According to the present invention, a jet of the liquid to be vapourisedor gasifled is forced through a nozzle on to a conductive surface orelectrode and an electric current of suflicient intensity to vapouriseor gasify the liquid is passed through the jet.

This may conveniently be done by making the nozzle, through which thejet is forced, of metal and by establishing a suitable potentialdifference between the nozzle and the surface or electrode on which thejet impinges. The potential difference and the intensity of the currentflowing through the jet will, of course, vary according to the nature ofthe liquid (or mixture of liquids) forming the jet.

In order that this invention may be the more clearly understood andreadily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way ofexample certain embodiments of this invention, and in which:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic section through a single jetgasifying heat generator and part of a gas expansion chamber accordingto the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a two jet system according to the presentinvention.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate embodiments of the present invention using atwo and three phase source of electric supply for the vapourisation ofliquids from two and three jets respectively.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the body ofthe apparatus may be made as a unit and comprises a gasifying head lleading directly to a gas expansion chamber II.

The head I0 is provided with one or more nozzles I2 passing through thewalls, the fitting of the nozzle, or each of the nozzles, as the casemay be, being of such a nature as to prevent the escape of gas. Forsimplicity of description it will be assumed in the followingdescription that only a single nozzle I2 is employed. The nozzle I2 issupplied with the liquid to be gasifled under pressure through the pipeI3 and non-return valve I4.

The pressure on the liquid may be obtained by means of a pump, by meansof air pressure with in the storage tank for the liquid, or by gravity.The non-return valve I4 is provided in order to prevent the backpressure of the gase formed in the head affecting the supply of liquidto the nozzle and, in some cases, is unnecessary.

The body of the gasifying head and the nozzle I2 are in electricalconnection with one another and are connected to an earthed terminal ofa source of electric power shown diagrammatically in Figure l as abattery I5. It may not be necessary actually to earth the body of thegasifying head but it can be considered as the ground potential of thewhole apparatus.

Inserted through the wall of the head Ill andsupply I5 so that the jetof liquid issuing from the nozzle I2, which will strike and contactelectrically the projecting electrode, will carry an electric current ofsufficient intensity to vapourise the liquid into a gas.

As above stated, more than one nozzle I2 with the corresponding numberof co-operating electrodes Il may be provided in the gasifying head.These nozzles may all be supplied with the same liquid, or may besupplied with different liquids which are gasified and mixed within thegasifying head. Where different liquids are supplied to the nozzles, itmay be desirable to establish different potential differences across thejets. This may be done by returning the different electrodes I'I, IIa todiiferent points on the battery or source of power I5, as shown inFigure 2, the nozzles I2, l2a being grounded to the common point of thesupply.

Where the gasifying head employs two jets or two groups of jets, thejets being of the same or different liquids, it is convenient to employa twophase system of electrical supply, as shown diagrammatically inFigure 2. All the nozzles l2 are connected to the electrical centre ofthe two phase system 20. One electrode or set of electrodes I1 isconnected to one of the phases, and the other electrode or set ofelectrodes I'Ia is connected to the other phase, both at potentialssuitable for the liquid or liquids being used. The positioning of thenozzles and electrodes in the gasifying head may be such that, whensplash of liquid takes place, there can be a flash-over from the greatervoltage between the phases at the electrodes, thereby causing bettergasifying action.

In a similar manner to that of using a twophase supply system, athree-phase supply may be used, as shown in Figure 4. All the nozzlesare connected to the electrical centreof the supply system andxtheindividual electrodes, or groups of electrodes, are connected to thephases as shown at potentials suitable to the liquids being used.

In some cases, air or other gas or gases ,may be injected into thegasifying head or gas expansion chamber to assist the gasifying actionThus, as shown in Figure 1, air or other gas may be injected into thegasifying head 'IO through a pipe- A further possibility is to fit thegasifying headto the induction manifold or cylinder block head oi theengine serving as the gas expansion chamher. In this case, the supply ofliquid to the gasifying head may becontrolled in a manner similar tothat of a Diesel or semi-Diesel engine, liquid being fed to the nozzleonly when the compression of theair inducted is about its maximum.

. 30 i of an internal combustion engine, the cylinders I claim:

1. Apparatus for vapourising or gasifying a liquid capable of conductingan electric current by passing an electric current of sufficientintensity to vapourise or gasify the liquid through the same comprisinga gasifying head including at least one tubular nozzle of conductingmaterial to which the liquid to be gasified is fed, and at least oneelectrode disposed opposite. said nozzle, together with means forestablishing a sufificient potential difference between said nozzle andids fi tm e, 1

'2, Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the liquid is fed to saidnozzle through a non-return 'valve.

3, Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for feeding a gas tothe gasifying head through a non-return valve.

' WILLIAM PATRICK KINNEEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-inthe file ofthis patent:

I .TA .AT N

Number Name Date 995,132 Grifiing June 13,1911- 1, 587,-197 SouthgateJunel; 1926* 1,994,331 Ziskin et a1 Mar. 12, 1935 2,368,115 Chapple Jan.30, 1945- FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 335,245 German-y Mar;30,1921

